Red Carpet Oscar Party

The 84th Academy Awards will air Sunday night, February 26th, 2012 on ABC.  While I tend to think that award shows in general have gone downhill over the years, I'll never miss watching The Oscars.  I wish I could keep up with all the current movies (I haven't seen any of the Best Picture nominees yet), but since I've had kids it's a small miracle to get to the theatre, and after the kids go to bed, I'd rather watch TV or catch up on my DVR'd shows while doing stuff on my laptop.  I keep saying I'm going to sit down and watch one of the films On Demand (all except for The Artist are available), and then I decide I don't want to commit to focusing on a movie for two hours and I'd rather watch Glee, Modern Family and American Idol.  But now that I have less than three weeks to watch nine movies, I better get crackin'!  The Descendants is first on my list.  It's hardly a sacrifice to watch George Clooney for two hours : )

I think I speak for most women when I say that one of the highlights of the night is seeing what and as they say,"who" everyone is wearing, on Live From the Red Carpet on E!, which airs just before the Oscars.  Along these lines, the highlight after the Oscars is watching, E!'s Fashion Police and hearing what the show's panel has to say about the "looks" of the night.  

The host of the event, after what was referred to by Entertainment Weekly as an "Oscar Mess", will be the always hilarious, Billy Crystal.  And while I was looking forward to seeing what originally hired host, Eddie Murphy, would've done with the show, I'm sure that Billy will not disappoint.

So, invite some movie-loving, star-gazing or fashionista friends over, crack out some bubbly, pop the popcorn and fill out your ballots.  It's a great night to host a red-carpet, Hollywood or movie themed party.  It's Oscar night!

Live From The Hollywood & Highland Center:

The Theatre Formerly Known as Kodak

And the Oscar Goes To...

The Nominees

Entertainment:

Printable Ballot

Printable Oscar Bingo Cards

Invitations:

As always, there are some great ones on Evite, but I always like to show options of hard copy invitations, even if to inspire you to hand create your own versions, and keep in mind that you can customize the text of general movie party invitations to become Oscar party ones.  Be creative!

PrintVilla.com (printed or printable)

Party Time

BeeYond Paper

eInvite.com

Shutteryfly.com

Party Hosting Tips:

From Esquire Magazine

The 9 Commandments of Throwing an Oscar Party

By Ryan D'Agostino

Don't schedule the party to begin at the same time the Oscar telecast begins. For one thing, people like to watch the red-carpet part. Also, the opening number and monologue are often uncomfortable but always interesting, and you'll want to be able to watch it in order to debate its merits later.

Post a list of acceptance speeches during which no one is to talk. If you're going to watch the Oscars, watch the Oscars. So, the obvious ones: actor, actress, both supporting awards, picture, director, and sound editing (but not sound mixing). And the screenwriters usually give pretty good speeches. Announce, in a way that suggests you are half-joking but actually not joking, "No talking until the cut-off music starts, please."

When they show the clip of the science and technology awards — usually about ninety seconds of a ceremony that was held four days prior and hosted by Drew Barrymore — it's a good time to fill the drinks and replenish the chip basket. No offense to those guys.

Please, silence during the dead-people montage.

Oscar ballots keep people interested. Include all the categories, though. It's the wild guesses in the categories like costume design and short film (live action) that decide these things. Set aside a bottle of wine for the winner.

It's okay to mute the performances of the nominees for best original song, if they still do those.

Remember that the fact that you're all watching the Oscars is enough of a theme. Don't push it by asking people to dress up like their favorite Academy Award winner. It is, however, okay to tell one person that everyone is dressing up at Tootsie.

Popcorn is a nice touch. But remember that microwave popcorn is for dogs. Here's how to make real popcorn: In a pot with a lid, place two tablespoons of canola and three kernels of popcorn over medium-high heat, covered. When two of the three kernels have popped, the oil is hot enough, so add one-third cup of popcorn kernels, cover, and shake the pot vigorously every few seconds. (If you don't, it'll burn.) It'll pop for a good three minutes or so. When the intervals between pops slow down to five seconds, it's done.

Add-ons: some combination of melted butter, salt, sugar, ground black pepper, chili powder, cumin. Or Junior Mints. They melt.

Best Picture Nominees Food and Drink:

Film synopses from Oscar.go.com

The Artist
Takes place in Hollywood, California (in black-and-white)
"As the era of silent films draws to a close, two actors find their careers and their relationship influenced by the coming of talking pictures.  While popular screen star George Valentin resists the transition to sound, young Peppy Miller embodies a modern age that is leaving Valentin behind." 

Palette of Cupcakes (photo courtesy of Girly Bubble)

Movie Night Cupcakes from Must Have Cute

Black and White Cookies from Smitten Kitchen

The Descendants
Takes Place in Hawaii
"The complexities of life, death and family relations challenge a man faced with losing his wife.  When Elizabeth King is left comatose following an accident, her husband Matt finds himself thrust into the unfamiliar role of caregiver to their two daughters, while at the same time facing a difficult financial decision that may put him at odds with other family members."

Tiny Ham and Pineapple Pot Pies from Pillsbury via Tablespoon

This Hawaiian Punch

Or this Hawaiian punch from Good Cocktails.com

Extremely Loud & Incredible Close

Takes place in New York City
"A young boy who may have Asperger’s syndrome must deal with the loss of his father on September 11.  When eleven-year-old Oskar discovers a key among his father’s possessions, he becomes convinced that finding the lock it opens will help him understand the tragedy of his father’s death."

Pizza Bagel (photo courtesy of Finagle)

Nutty Caramel Apple Dip Recipe from Taste of Home

The Help
"In the racially charged climate of Jackson, Mississippi, in 1963, a young white Southerner convinces a group of African-American maids to relate their experiences working in white households.  The stories they share reflect the devastating social inequality governing every aspect of life in Jackson, and place the women at risk of reprisals from their employers."

Mississippi Mud Pie from Pastries of a Chocoholic

Red Velvet cake Balls from Gonna Want Seconds

Mint Julep from Epicurious




Hugo  
"Hugo Cabret is a young Parisian orphan who lives hidden away in the vast Gare Montparnasse train station.  When he is not eluding the station’s watchful inspector, secretly keeping its many clocks running, or tinkering with a mechanical figure that belonged to his father, Hugo observes the lives of the people who work in the station…including an irascible toy shop owner named Georges Méliès."

Parmesan French Bread from My Recipes

Decorated Train Sugar Cookies from Dessarts

Midnight in Paris
"On a trip to Paris with his fiancée, a screenwriter is filled with nostalgia for the Paris of the 1920s, when artists and writers flocked to the City of Light in a celebrated period of creativity.  For Gil, the romance of that bygone era exerts a pull that places him increasingly at odds with his impatient, unimaginative future wife."

Red Velvet Valentine's Macarons from Delectable Deliciousness

Pink Champagne Cocktail from The Food Channel

Moneyball
"Following a devastating loss to the New York Yankees in the 2001 playoffs, Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane and his assistant, Peter Brand, devise a statistics-based formula for choosing potential players.  Uncertain of his chances of success and following a plan that flouts conventional baseball wisdom, Beane sets out to rebuild his team."

Cracker Jack Popcorn from No Time to Cook

Pigs in a Blanket from Oprah.com (also appropriate for Extremely Loud and Incredible Close )

(This classic appetizer is also in my Super Bowl Party post)

The Tree of Life


"A middle-aged man’s contemplation of the pattern and meaning of his life is interwoven with moments from his childhood in a small Texas town.  As Jack O’Brien and his two younger brothers grow up, they are shaped by both the nurturing love of their mother and their demanding father’s strict discipline and unyielding expectations."

Open-Faced Texas Burger from Taste of Home

Texas BBQ Braised Beef  Brisket from Grilled Recipes

Texas Corn Bread from My Recipes

War Horse
Takes place in England, France and Germany
"The horrors of war are seen through the eyes of a valiant horse whose young owner must relinquish him to the army at the start of World War I.  Separated from the farmer’s son who has raised and trained him, Joey enters the war as a cavalry horse and is soon plunged into the nightmarish heart of the conflict."

Horse Cookies from SweetArtSweets via Etsy

Parmesan Fish Sticks from Food Network

Baked Brie from Simply Recipes

German Chocolate Mini Cakes from King Arthur Flour via Seduction Meals

More Red Carpet Ideas:

Cookie Awards from Bakerella

Tuxedo Strawberries from About.com

From Food Network Magazine

Mini Black-Bottom Cheesecakes from Delish

Chewy Caramel Popcorn and Pretzel Bars from Martha Stewart

Perfect Popcorn Simply Recipes

Mint-Chocolate Brownies from Martha Stewart

Do-It-Yourself Truffles from Delish

Panko-Crusted Crab Cake Bites with Roasted Pepper-Chive Aioli from  My Recipes

Panko-Crusten Chicken Bites with Apricot Mustard Sauce from Martha Stewart

Deviled Eggs with Caviar from What's Cooking America
(Photo courtesy of Fine Cooking)

Sweet Onion Dip from Martha Stewart

Blood Orange Champagne Cocktail from Martha Stewart

Frosty Lemon Martini from My Recipes

Pomegranate Soda from Martha Stewart

Novelties:

From PartyCheap.com

Movie Night party supplies from Oriental Trading

Addendum: 

I got all comfy under my blanket on the sofa,  ready to watch The Descendants, and WHAAAT?  IT'S NOT ONE OF THE CHOICES?  At least it's still playing in the theatre.  So, I decided to watch my second choice, Moneyball, and I'm taking a brief break to update this post and say that so far, I'm loving it.  Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill are fantastic and it's a great story. And while he's no George, Brad it ain't too hard to look at either.  Now, back to the movie....